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3 Tips for Correct Use of the Apostrophe

The apostrophe is perhaps one of the most misused punctuation marks in the English language. If you are not sure how this punctuation mark should be used, then check out these three tips on how to use apostrophes properly.

• 1. Indicating the Possessive Form of Nouns

  The apostrophe is used when writing the possessive form of nouns. Examples of these are: Mary’s house, Ray’s painting, and Agnes’ garden. The apostrophe in these examples indicates ownership; the house belongs to Mary, the painting to Ray, and the garden to Agnes.

• 2. In Place of Omitted Letters in Contractions

  Contractions are words that have a letter or some letters omitted, oftentimes when in the act of combining two words together. Examples of these are: can’t, haven’t, it’s, who’s, and I’m. These contractions stand for: cannot, have not, it is, who is, and I am, respectively. Note that the apostrophes in these examples were placed where the omitted letters used to be.

• 3. When Not to Use an Apostrophe

  The apostrophe is never to be used in possessive pronouns. Therefore, it is wrong to write possessive pronouns this way: their’s, her’s, it’s, your’s. The correct way of writing these pronouns is: theirs, hers, its, and yours, respectively.

Also, the apostrophe should not be used when writing plural nouns, such as in: market share’s, table’s and chair’s, book’s for sale. These should be correctly written as: market shares, tables and chairs, and books for sale, respectively.

You can remedy your apostrophe errors by consulting the WhiteSmoke online punctuation checker or the full desktop application, which features an English punctuation checker. Remember these three tips, apply them, and use a punctuation checker to polish your work, and you’ll be good to go.

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Write a comment

MAHENDRA SOLANKI
Posts: 8

GOOD
Reply #7 on : Mon July 19, 2010, 20:43:38

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I like the post very much.It if of very good use for me.

Thanks

yousuf
Posts: 8

grammar
Reply #6 on : Sat July 17, 2010, 18:40:46

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You have sent me very useful material on English grammar.I want to learn english so your material is very useful for me. Kndly send me material on spoken english I want to learn how to speak in english.Moreover I teach children so I want to teach them how to speak in english.Please help me in this respect. Thanks

Mercy
Posts: 8

Too good to go
Reply #5 on : Wed July 07, 2010, 10:28:57

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Wondweful puntuation checker.

gilson chapple
Posts: 8

apostrophe
Reply #4 on : Wed June 02, 2010, 12:52:53

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This is a problem I have?

(Antiques cannnot look after themselves)
Should an apostrophe appear in the word themselves?

CHIKA EJI
Posts: 8

Re: 3 Tips for Correct Use of the Apostrophe | Using Apostrophes in English
Reply #3 on : Wed June 02, 2010, 11:44:00

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Once again, I appreciate your effort to brush many from the elementary of English Grammer. It is very good and will be beneficial to persons like me especailly in the area of write-ups, I mean writing a good essays,business letters and so on.

Thank you.

CHIKA EJIE
Posts: 8

Re: 3 Tips for Correct Use of the Apostrophe | Using Apostrophes in English
Reply #2 on : Wed June 02, 2010, 11:34:20

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Thanks for your good package. would want to get more from you on English Grammer.

yogesh
Posts: 8

use of apostrophe
Reply #1 on : Mon March 15, 2010, 12:04:53

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Hell please make me know that can we use Aoostrophe after Both in sentence . like
Both`s health is fine